Bag expander

ABSTRACT

A plastic belt is expanded inside a paper bag to convert the paper bag to an upright self-supporting disposable waste receptacle, the belt having the equivalent of a buckle means which may be used to suspend the receptacle from a hook on a wall.

United States Patent Inventor Kai Ropche Fan-e111 5450 Russell Ave, Apt.1, Hollywood, Calif. 90027 Appl. No. 879,391

Filed Nov. 24, 1969 Patented Dec. 14, 19711 BAG EXPANDER 12 Claims, 15Drawing Figs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Fje11man Se11..... Pam...

Nicolas Backlund et a1.

Primary Examiner-Chancellor E. Harris A!t0rney-Smyth, Roston & PavittABSTRACT: A plastic belt is expanded inside a paper bag to convert thepaper bag to an upright self-supporting disposable waste receptacle, thebelt having the equivalent of a buckle means which may be used tosuspend the receptacle from a hook on a wall.

sac EXPANDER BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Receptacles that are commonlyused for trash eventually become soiled, unsightly and unsanitary andespecially so when used in kitchens, garages, workshops, trailers andhospitals. There is a pressing need, therefore, for such a receptaclethat is so inexpensive that it may be discarded after a short period ofuse. Ideally the cost should be so low as to make it economical todispose of the receptacle the first time it becomes filled with trash.

A further need exists in many instances for such a receptacle that mayhang on a wall. In other instances there is a need for such a receptaclethat can be suspended from the belt of a workman, for example a workmanwho is picking fruit or a workman who is picking up litter in a publicplace, In addition, there are instances where the need is for adisposable liner cheaper than other types of liners for use inside awaste basket.

It has been proposed heretofore to meet some of these needs by means ofmore or less elaborate metal frames designed to support paper bags inopen position. Such metal frames are disclosed, for example, in thefollowing patents:

U.S. Pal. Nos.

Brown l34.637 Parr 991,08! Reed 1,086,2l8 Meyer 7 l,6$0,447 Happerl,760,752 Colthurst et al. 3,l30,853 Backlund :t al. 3,240,457

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly described, the preferred embodiment ofthe invention comprises a flexible strap or belt with a suitablesecuring means to hold the belt in a closed loop that may be expanded byinfinite increments. In the principal use of the invention, the loopedstrap is expanded to such an extent inside the open end of a commonpaper bag as to place the looped strap under substantial circumferentialcompression and thereby place the paper back under correspondingcircumferential tension to convert the flimsy paper bag into an uprightself-supporting receptacle. When the bag is full of trash it is a simplematter to remove the confined looped strap and to dispose of the filledpaper bag.

Preferably the adjustable securing means to retain the strap in loopform has an eye or hook by means of which the expanded paper bag mayeither be suspended on a wall or attached to a workman's belt. Theadjustable loop may also be used inside the open end of a paper bag toexpand the paper bag against the inner wall of a surrounding rigidreceptacle so that the paper bag functions as a liner for thereceptacle. Since the strap is flexible, it is capable of making thepaper bag liner conform to a noncircular receptacle, for example areceptacle that is rectangular in cross section.

In another use of the looped strap, a paper bag employed as a linerinside a rigid receptacle has a marginal portion folded over the rim ofthe rigid receptacle and the strap loop may be used in tension to clampthe overhanging margin of the paper bag against the outside of the rigidreceptacle.

One feature of the invention is that two of the straps may be connectedend to end to function as a single loop for use with an unusually largepaper bag. Another feature of the invention is that the strap may bemade of inexpensive plastic and the securing means for holding the twooverlapping ends of the strap together may comprise simply a plasticcollar that embraces the overlapping ends of the strap, the plasticcollar being employed in combination with a clamping member in the formof a bent wire that cooperates with the collar to clamp the overlappingstrap ends together.

Still another important feature of the invention is a technique foradjusting the strap loop in such manner as to place a paper bag underany desired magnitude of circumferential tension.

A further feature is a procedure for removing the looped strap from abag and replacing it in a new bag of the same size without the necessityof either loosening or adjusting the looped strap.

The features and advantages of the invention may be understood byreference to the following detailed description and the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, which are to beregarded as merely illustrative:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a selected embodiment of the loopedstrap with the clamping member in release position to permit theoverlapping ends of the strap to be adjusted relative to each other forexpanding and contracting the strap loop;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the separate parts of the device shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the clampingmember in release position to permit expansion or contraction of theloop;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 4--4 of FIG. 3showing the clamping member in release position;

FIG. 5 is a similar view showing the clamping member in its clampingposition;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a clamping member comprising a piece offormed wire that may be substituted for the clamping member shown inFIGS. 3 to 5;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the formed wire member in itsreleased position;

FIG. 8 is a similar view showing the formed wire in its clampingposition;

FIG. 8a is a fragmentary view of the wire clamping member showing itstwo effective cross-sectional dimensions;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a paper bag with the looped strapinstalled therein;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing how the looped strap may beresiliently deformed either for the purpose of removing the looped strapfrom a bag or for the purpose of installing the looped strap in a bag;

FIG. It is a plan view showing how the looped strap may be employedinside a paper bag to anchor the paper bag inside a receptacle ofrectangular cross section, the bag serving as a liner for thereceptacle;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view showing how a margin of a paperbag liner for a rigid receptacle may be folded over the rim of thereceptacle and clamped against the outside of the receptacle by thelooped strap; and

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing how two straps may be connected end toend to form a relatively large strap loop for use in the relativelylarge bag.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 11-3 illustrate anembodiment of the invention which comprises: a strap 10 formed into aclosed loop with two ends 10a and lllb of the strap overlapping eachother; a collar 12 that embraces the overlapping strap ends and isattached directly to strap end 10b; and a clamping member 14 which incombination with the collar serves as securing means to releasably holdthe two strap ends against mutual slippage. In the preferred practice ofthe invention; a second narrower collar l slidingly embraces strap endsbut this second collar may be omitted if desired.

As indicated'in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the strap may comprise a band ofsuitable plastic material such as high impact styrene and the collars l2and may also be made of a suitable plastic and may be sheared from aplastic tube. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the clamping member 14 maybe a C-shaped piece of flat metal stock with one am extending into thecollar 12 to serve as a clamping portion I6 of the clamping member. Asbest shown in FIG. 3 the clamping portion 16 has an end flange 17 tokeep it from being withdrawn from the collar. The other arm of theC-shaped clamping member is a handle portion 18 which is preferablycurved as shown.

The clamping portion 16 of the clamping member 14 has a width dimensionthat is substantially larger than its thickness dimension and theclamping portion extends into a clearance space between the innersurface of the collar 12 and the strap end 10b on which the collar ismounted. When the second strap end 100 is inserted into the collar I2 inoverlapping relationship with the strap end I0b as shown in FIG. 1, theclearance space 20 is reduced by the thickness of the strap end 100.

In FIG. 3 the clamping member 14 is in its release position with thethickness of the clamping portion 16 extending. into the clearance space20, the handle portion 18 of the clamping member extending laterally ofthe strap ends. Thus as shown in FIG. I the handle 18 extends towardsthe center of the loop when the strap is formed into a loop. The handleportion 18 of the clamping member 14 may be rotated about the clampingportion 16 as a pivot between the release position of the clampingmember shown in FIG. 4 and the clamping position shown in FIG. 5. In theclamping position of the clamping member shown in FIG. 5 the widthdimension of the clamping portion 16 is interposed between the twooverlapping strap ends and a portion of the inner surface of the collarl2,'the width dimension being of sufficient magnitude to place thecollar under stress and thereby clamp the overlapping strap ends againsta second portion of the inner surface of the collar that is oppositefrom the first portion. It can be seen in FIG. 5 that in the clampingposition of the clamping member 14 the handle portion 18 extendsgenerally axially of the closed loop.

FIG. 6 shows a preferred embodiment 14a of the clamping member which isin the form of a piece of relatively stiff wire that is bent to aconfiguration to serve the purpose of the clamping member. In FIG. 6 theclamping portion 18a of the clamping member is formed with a flange 17aand is further formed with a curved offset 20 which has the effect ofgiving the clamping portion a width dimension that is substantiallygreater than its thickness portion. The clamping member 14a is formedwith the usual curved handle portion 18a.

Preferably as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 the width dimension of the clampingportion 16a of the clamping member is at an acute angle relative to thehandle portion 18 instead of being substantially perpendicular to thehandle portion. It is apparent from FIGS. 7 and 8 that when the handleportion 18a is swung upward from the release position shown in FIG. 7 tothe clamping position shown in FIG. 8 the clamping portion 160 swingspast center with respect to the inner surface of the collar 12 so thatthere is a tendency for the clamping member to snap into its clampingposition as it approaches its clamping position and when the clampingmember is in its clamping position it is resiliently biased to tend tokeep its clamping position.

The wire clamping member 14a does not swing to a clamping position atwhich its full width dimension is interposed between the two strap endsand the inner surface of the collar but instead swings to a clampingposition at which the width dimension of the clamping portion is canted.But, in both forms of the clamping member the dimension of the clampingportion that is actually effective between the overlapping strap endsand the inner surface of the collar is substantially greater at theclamping position of the clamping member than at the release position.The cross-sectional dimension of the wire clamping member l4a-that iseffective at its clamping position is indicated at Y in FIG. 80.

FIG. 9 shows how the strap 10 formed into a closed loop with theoverlapping ends held against slippage by the clamping member 16astretches the open end of a paper bag 20 circumferentially to hold theopen end of the bag under tension and thus cause the bag to standupright in a self-supporting manner It is a simple matter to place thelooped strap inside a paper bag in the position shown in FIG. 9 and toexpand the loop and then secure the loop in expanded state but it isdifficult to expand the strap in this manner sufficiently to place thepaper bag under optimum circumferential tension.

A feature of the invention in this regard is the concept of carrying outthe following steps to make sure to place the open end of the bag undersubstantial circumferential tension. The first step is to insert thelooped strap into the open end of the paper bag with the clamping memberin release position. The second step is to expand the strap manuallysufficiently to place the paper bag under moderate circumferentialtension and then to swing the clamping member to its clamping position.The third step is to manually distort the strap loop to hourglassconfiguration as shown in FIG. 10 while the overlapping strap ends arestill clamped together and thereby contract the strap in overalldimension sufficiently to permit removal of the strap loop from the bag.The next step is to release the clamping member of the closed loop andcarefully slide one of the two overlapping ends approximately onefourthinch relative to the other to expand the loop accordingly, the clampingmember then being restored to its clamping position. The next step is todeform the expanded loop again to the hourglass configuration shown inFIG. 10. The final step is to insert the deformed expanded loop into thebag and to manually restore the loop to its circular configuration withconsequent substantial stressing of the loop in circumferentialcompression to place the open end of the bag under the desired highcircumferential tension.

Once the looped strap is adjusted to place the open end of a paper bagunder the desired high-tensile stress, it need not be adjusted again foruse in a succession of bags of the same size. It is a simple matter todistort the looped strap to hourglass configuration for the purpose oftransferring the looped strap from one bag to another.

It may be noted in FIG. 9 that the handle portion [8a extends upwardfrom the open end of the bag. The upwardly extending handle portion 18amay be hung on a nail on a wall to suspend the open bag, or if desired,the handle portion may be employed to attach the open bag to the belt ofa workman.

FIG. 11 shows how the paper bag 20 may be used to line a receptacle 22of rectangular cross-sectional configuration such as a waste basket.With the paper bag 20 telescoped into the receptacle 22, the strap 10ais expanded and clamped as shown to expand the bag against thereceptacle 22 and to hold the bag in position. Here again the strap maybe removed, enlarged and replaced to cause the strap to act withadequate pressure against the inner surface of the receptacle 22.

FIG. 12 shows how a paper bag 20 may be telescoped into a rigidreceptacle 24 with a marginal portion 25 of the open end of the bagfolded down over the rim of the rigid receptacle. The strap 10 isemployed in circumferential tension instead of circumferentialcompression to clamp the exterior marginal portion 25 against the outersurface of the receptacle, the clamping member of the belt being on theouter circumference of the loop instead of being on the innercircumference. The strap loop may be dismantled and then reversed tomake the conversion or the strap loop may be simply turned inside out tomake the conversion.

FIG. 13 shows how two straps 10 may be interconnected end to end toserve as a single relatively large strap to cooperate with a paper bagof relatively large size. Each of the two collars 12 in FIG. I3 embracesoverlapping ends of the two straps respectively.

My description in specific detail of the preferred practices of theinvention will suggest various changes, substitutions and otherdepartures from my disclosure within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

I claim:

ll. In a belt, the combination of:

a strap formed into a closed loop with the opposite ends of the strapoverlapping;

a collar embracing the overlapping strap ends with a given clearancebetween a first portion on the inner surface of the collar and theoverlapping strap ends; and

a clamping member having a clamping portion extending into the collarfrom one end thereof into the clearance space between the inner surfaceof the collar and the overlapping strap ends, said clamping memberhaving a handle portion extending outward from the collar to swing aboutthe clamping portion as a pivot between a release position and aclamping position,

said handle portion extending laterally from the overlapping strap endsat its release position and extending generally axially of the loop atits clamping position,

said clamping portion having a first cross-sectional dimension and asecond cross-sectional dimension substantially greater than the firstcross-sectional dimension at an angle relative to the firstcross-sectional dimension,

the first cross-sectional dimension of the clamping portion beinginterposed between the two straps and said first portion of the innersurface of the collar at the release position of the handle portion,

the second cross-sectional dimension of the clamping portion beinginterposed between the two straps and said first portion of the innersurface of the collar at the clamping position of the clamping member,

said second cross-sectional dimension being sufiiciently greater thanthe thickness of said clearance to cause the clamping portion to clampthe overlapping strap ends against a second portion of the inner surfaceof the collar opposite from said first portion at the clamping positionof the clamping member.

2. In a receptacle for trash or the like, the combination of:

an upright paper bag with an open upper end;

a flexible plastic strap formed into a loop with overlapping ends andpositioned wholly inside the paper bag near the upper open end thereof;and

securing means releasably holding the overlapping ends of the straptogether,

said paper bag being sufficiently stiff to be not only self-supportingin its upright position but also to support the weight of the straploop,

said strap loop acting under circumferential compression to hold theopen upper end of the bag open and to place the open upper end of thebag under sufficient circumferential tension to cause the paper bag tosupport the strap loop solely by frictional contact between the loop andthe bag.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said securing meansreleasably clamps the overlapping ends together to permit infiniteadjustment in the dimension of the loop.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said securing meanscomprises:

a collar embracing the two overlapping ends transversely thereof; and

a clamping member extending into the collar and being adjustable toexert pressure outwardly against a first portion of the inner surface ofthe collar and pressure inwardly against the two overlapping strap endsto clamp the two strap ends against a second portion of the innersurface of the collar that is opposite from the first portion.

5. in a device for positioning inside the open end ofa paper bag toexpand the open end and enable the bag to stand upright to serve as aself-supporting receptacle, the combination of:

a flexible strap forming a closed loop with its opposite endsoverlapping; and

securing means releasably clamping the overlapping ends of the straptogether to permit infinite adjustment in the dimension of the loop tofit into bags of various girth dimensions,

said securing means further including a clamping member extending intothe collar and adjustable to exert pressure outwardly against a firstportion of the inner surface of the collar and pressure inwardly againstthe two overlapping strap ends to clamp the two strap ends against asecond portion of the inner surface of the collar that is opposite fromthe first portion,

said clamping member having a clamping portion extending into the collarfrom one end thereof and a handle portion extending outwardly from thecollar laterally thereof,

said clamping portion having a first cross-sectional dimension and asecond cross-sectional dimension substantially greater than the firstcross-sectional dimension at an angle relative to the firstcross-sectional dimension,

said handle portion being swingable about the clamping portion as apivot between a release position extending laterally from theoverlapping strap ends at which the first crosssectional dimension ofthe clamping portion is interposed between a portion of the innersurface of the collar and the two overlapping strap ends,

first cross-sectional dimension of the clamping portion being interposedbetween the two straps and said first portion of the inner surface ofthe collar at the release position of the handle portion,

said second cross-sectional dimension being of a magnitude to place thecollar under substantial stress for clamping action against theoverlapping strap ends at the clamping position of the handle portion.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said handle portionextends generally axially of the loop at its clamping position and isshaped and dimensioned to engage support means such as a nail on a wallto suspend the open bag.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said clamping means isa bent strip of flat metal stock.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said clamping memberis a piece of stiff wire of generally C-shaped configuration having oneof its arms extending into the collar to serve as the clamping portion,the other arm serving as the handle portion,

said clamping portion of the wire having an offset to provide saidsecond cross-sectional dimension.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said handle portionextends at an acute angle from the second cross-sectional dimension ofthe clamping portion to cause the second cross-sectional dimension toswing past center relative to said portion of the inner surface of thecollar when the handle portion is swung from its release position to itsclamping position,

whereby the clamping member tends to snap into its clamping position andis biased to maintain its clamping position by the tension of thecollar.

110. A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said collar isattached to one of the two ends of the strap.

111. A combination as set forth in claim it) which includes a secondcollar freely slidable along the overlapping strap ends to keep theoverlapping strap ends together.

B2. A method of enabling a paper bag to stand upright in aself-supporting manner to serve as an open receptacle, characterized bythe steps of:

providing an elongated resiliently flexible member of a length exceedingthe girth dimension of the bag; overlapping the opposite ends of themember to form the member into a closed loop; positioning the loopinside the open end of the bag and adjusting the overlap of the ends ofthe member to expand the loop snugly against the inner surface of thebag;

securing the overlapping ends together to maintain the expandeddimension of the loop;

removing the expanded loop from inside the bag while the overlappingends are secured to each other;

inserting the distorted loop into the open end of the bag;

and restoring the configuration of the loop against the inner surface ofthe bag to place the loop under circumferential compression stress tocause corresponding circumferential tensile stress in the open end ofthe bag.

# U i i i

1. In a belt, the combination of: a strap formed into a closed loop withthe opposite ends of the strap overlapping; a collar embracing theoverlapping strap ends with a given clearance between a first portion onthe inner surface of the collar and the overlapping strap ends; and aclamping member having a clamping portion extending into the collar fromone end thereof into the clearance space between the inner surface ofthe collar and the overlapping strap ends, said clamping member having ahandle portion extending outward from the collar to swing about theclamping portion as a pivot between a release position and a clampingposition, said handle portion extending laterally from the overlappingstrap ends at its release position and extending generally axially ofthe loop at its clamping position, said clamping portion having a firstcross-sectional dimension and a second cross-sectional dimensionsubstantially greater than the first cross-sectional dimension at anangle relative to the first cross-sectional dimension, the firstcross-sectional dimension of the clamping portion being interposedbetween the two straps and said first portion of the inner surface ofthe collar at the release position of the handle portion, the secondcross-sectional dimension of the clamping portion being interposedbetween the two straps and said first portion of the inner surface ofthe collar at the clamping position of the clamping member, said secondcross-sectional dimension being sufficiently greater than the thicknessof said clearance to cause the clamping portion to clamp the overlappingstrap ends against a second portion of the inner surface of the collaropposite from said first portion at the clamping position of theclamping member.
 2. In a receptacle for trash or the like, thecombination of: an upright paper bag with an open upper end; a flexibleplastic strap formed into a loop with overlapping ends and positionedwholly inside the paper bag near the upper open end thereof; andsecuring means releasably holding the overlapping ends of the straptogether, said paper bag being sufficiently stiff to be not onlyself-supporting in its upright position but also to support the weightof the strap loop, said strap loop acting under circumferentialcompression to hold the open upper end of the bag open and to place theopen upper end of the bag under sufficient circumferential tension tocause the paper bag to support the strap loop solely by frictionalcontact between the loop and the bag.
 3. A combination as set forth inclaim 2 in which said securing means releasably clamps the overlappingends together to permit infinite adjustment in the dimension of theloop.
 4. A combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said securingmeans comprises: a collar embracing the two overlapping endstransversely thereof; and A clamping member extending into the collarand being adjustable to exert pressure outwardly against a first portionof the inner surface of the collar and pressure inwardly against the twooverlapping strap ends to clamp the two strap ends against a secondportion of the inner surface of the collar that is opposite from thefirst portion.
 5. In a device for positioning inside the open end of apaper bag to expand the open end and enable the bag to stand upright toserve as a self-supporting receptacle, the combination of: a flexiblestrap forming a closed loop with its opposite ends overlapping; andsecuring means releasably clamping the overlapping ends of the straptogether to permit infinite adjustment in the dimension of the loop tofit into bags of various girth dimensions, said securing means furtherincluding a clamping member extending into the collar and adjustable toexert pressure outwardly against a first portion of the inner surface ofthe collar and pressure inwardly against the two overlapping strap endsto clamp the two strap ends against a second portion of the innersurface of the collar that is opposite from the first portion, saidclamping member having a clamping portion extending into the collar fromone end thereof and a handle portion extending outwardly from the collarlaterally thereof, said clamping portion having a first cross-sectionaldimension and a second cross-sectional dimension substantially greaterthan the first cross-sectional dimension at an angle relative to thefirst cross-sectional dimension, said handle portion being swingableabout the clamping portion as a pivot between a release positionextending laterally from the overlapping strap ends at which the firstcross-sectional dimension of the clamping portion is interposed betweena portion of the inner surface of the collar and the two overlappingstrap ends, first cross-sectional dimension of the clamping portionbeing interposed between the two straps and said first portion of theinner surface of the collar at the release position of the handleportion, said second cross-sectional dimension being of a magnitude toplace the collar under substantial stress for clamping action againstthe overlapping strap ends at the clamping position of the handleportion.
 6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said handleportion extends generally axially of the loop at its clamping positionand is shaped and dimensioned to engage support means such as a nail ona wall to suspend the open bag.
 7. A combination as set forth in claim 5in which said clamping means is a bent strip of flat metal stock.
 8. Acombination as set forth in claim 5 in which said clamping member is apiece of stiff wire of generally C-shaped configuration having one ofits arms extending into the collar to serve as the clamping portion, theother arm serving as the handle portion, said clamping portion of thewire having an offset to provide said second cross-sectional dimension.9. A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which said handle portionextends at an acute angle from the second cross-sectional dimension ofthe clamping portion to cause the second cross-sectional dimension toswing past center relative to said portion of the inner surface of thecollar when the handle portion is swung from its release position to itsclamping position, whereby the clamping member tends to snap into itsclamping position and is biased to maintain its clamping position by thetension of the collar.
 10. A combination as set forth in claim 5 inwhich said collar is attached to one of the two ends of the strap.
 11. Acombination as set forth in claim 10 which includes a second collarfreely slidable along the overlapping strap ends to keep the overlappingstrap ends together.
 12. A method of enabling a paper bag to standupright in a self-supporting manner to serve as an open receptacle,characterized by the steps of: providing an elongated resilientlyflexible member of a length exceeding the girth dimension of the bag;overlapping the opposite ends of the member to form the member into aclosed loop; positioning the loop inside the open end of the bag andadjusting the overlap of the ends of the member to expand the loopsnugly against the inner surface of the bag; securing the overlappingends together to maintain the expanded dimension of the loop; removingthe expanded loop from inside the bag while the overlapping ends aresecured to each other; releasing the overlapping ends from each othertemporarily and reducing the overlap to expand the loop further; againsecuring the overlapping ends together while the loop is thus furtherexpanded; bowing at least one portion of the expanded loop inwardly todistort the loop to configuration of reduced cross dimension; insertingthe distorted loop into the open end of the bag; and restoring theconfiguration of the loop against the inner surface of the bag to placethe loop under circumferential compression stress to cause correspondingcircumferential tensile stress in the open end of the bag.